Do You snore...? Snoring may be a sign of a more serious condition known as obstructive sleep apnea or "OSA".

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a medical condition where your tongue and soft tissues actually closes off your airways and stops or constructs air from entering your lungs. When this happens, your oxygen decreases and your brain panics causing you to startle awake. Sleep apnea is usually a chronic (ongoing) condition that disrupts your sleep. When your breathing pauses or becomes shallow, you will often move out of a deep sleep and into a light sleep. As a result, the quality of your sleep is poor which causes you to be tired during the day. Sleep apnea is a leading cause of excessive daytime sleepiness.

Some of the signs and symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Inconsistent breathing during sleep

Snoring

Hypertension

Depression

Obesity

Gasping, chocking, or coughing during sleep

Extreme sleepiness during the day

Lethargic feelings

Morning headaches

Lack of interest in hobbies

Dry mouth and/or sore throat in the morning

Irregular heartbeat

Trouble concentrating or remembering things

Risks of leaving untreated...

Sleep apnea is easily diagnosed with an overnight sleep study. However, untreated sleep apnea can lead to potentially serious health complications and life-shortening consequences such as: high blood pressure, hear disease, stroke, weight gain, automobile accidents caused by falling asleep at the wheel, diabetes, depression, and other ailments.

Traditional treatment for Sleep Apnea is a CPAP machine. A dental alternative is possible in many cases in which an oral appliance is fabricated.